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Some of our TU team members and a group from Solid Gold Pet Foods were invited to a training session of the St. Louis County Police K9 units this week. It was very exciting to watch the officers train with their K9 dogs for the afternoon.

Paula and the Oakville team have been working very closely with Solid Gold and the St. Louis County Police K9 unit to provide all the K9’s with healthy, all-natural Solid Good dog food. The officers now exclusively feed their dogs Solid Gold that they get from our Treats Unleashed Oakville location.

The officers talked about how they noticed a difference in the softness and shininess of their dogs' coats since making the switch to Solid Gold foods from the less nutritional food they were feeding previously. At the training, the dogs did search and find exercises with the officers. These dogs are truly majestic, powerful, energetic, and live to serve and please their handlers. It was an honor to watch these teams work!

{Visit our Facebook page to see more great photos of the training session. Photos courtesy of Paula.}

The staff at each of our 12 neighborhood shops are trained pet food experts and are dedicated to helping you find the perfect foods and treats for your dog's individual needs. Visit a Treats Unleashed near you to start your dog on a healthy all-natural diet today!

Treats Unleashed caters to every pet’s individual needs when it comes to health, diet and
nutrition. For more information, contact us at info@treats-unleashed.com.

About Treats Unleashed
Treats Unleashed has remained 100% family-owned since we opened our first shop in 2002, and we are well-known for being the all-natural place for pets. Treats Unleashed specializes in all-natural pet food; pet treats baked fresh in the shops; high-quality toys and supplies; expert grooming; and convenient self-wash services.

PLEASE HELP!
Our good friends at Open Door Animal Sanctuary need some extra help! The road to the shelter has partially collapsed and they cannot get their regular supplies delivered until the road is repaired.

Treats Unleashed - St. Louis has set up drop off boxes at five of our neighborhood shops - Creve Coeur, Chesterfield, Oakville, Des Peres and Richmond Heights - so that all of us in the pet community can lend a helping hand! Any one can bring donations to the neighborhood shops listed above beginning today and continuing for the next few weeks. Our TU team is working with ODAS staff and volunteers to get them the supplies that they need starting later this week.

Please consider donating to ODAS! They have continued to help pets in need during the flooding even though they need help. too!

Drop off any of these items at our Creve Coeur, Chesterfield, Oakville, Des Peres and Richmond Heights shops:

Our March Spotlight Organizations, Kitty City Kansas Rescue and Tenth Life, will each receive $1,068 from the proceeds of our March Spotlight Treats sales, 10% from the sales of our jumbo personalized Easter eggs, and the donation boxes by the registers.

Because of your generous spirit, these donations will help these great rescue groups continue to provide veterinary care, foster care, and nurturing for special needs cats and kittens until they are ready for their furever homes!

Is your cat a hoop star? Does your feline have what it takes to win the Treats Unleashed March Catness?Submit a photo of your cat along with a short, fun bio telling us why they are an all-star feline to Treats Unleashed to enter your cat in Treats Unleashed's March Catness Contest, sponsored by Weruva!

Once all entries have been submitted by midnight, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 16 cats will be chosen at random to become part of the Hissin' 16 TU March Catness Contest.

Each week, cats will compete in their "hoops bracket" for the most votes on our Facebook polling posts.

The Hissin' 16 voting will begin on Monday, March 13 & Tuesday, March 14, starting at 8 am. (8 felines will compete in the first two brackets each day).

PRIZES

{Courtesy of our sponsor - Weruva}

FELINE CHAMP: 1 YEAR SUPPLY OF FREE CAT FOOD!

First place winner will receive one case of any formula of Weruva cat food every month for the next year (April 2017 - April 2018). (A case consists of 24, 5.5 oz cans)

RUNNER UPS: 1 FREE VARIETY PACK CASE OF BFF CAT CANS

All 15 runner ups who were chosen to participate in the contest will receive a one-time free variety pack case of BFF cat cans. (A case consists of 12, 3 oz. cans)

Every all-star feline who enters the March Catness tourney will receive an exclusive email special from Treats Unleashed!

Complete photo contest rules

Entrants must adhere to the following submissions guidelines: Only digital photo submissions will be accepted. The maximum size is 5 MB. Photos will be displayed on Treats Unleashed's Facebook pages.

Contest entrants must be 18 years or older to enter. Only original photos are eligible.

In accordance with Treats Unleashed's March Catness contest, entries must feature a pet or pets (specifically a cat). Limit 1 cat photo per household.

Treats Unleashed reserves the right in their sole discretion to remove and to disqualify any photo that contains anything that is, in the sole discretion of the sponsor, inappropriate or offensive, including any depiction of obvious or suspected cruelty to animals, or that is submitted by an ineligible entrant or otherwise, not in compliance with these rules and regulations.

For all photos submitted into the contest by email, you must at the time of entry into the contest, either: (i) be the sole owner of all right, title and interest (including copyright and moral right) in and to the photo; and/or (ii) if the photo contains any trademarks, copyrighted material or other property owned by a third party, have the express permission of the third party to use such material in accordance with these rules and regulations.

Now what do I do? *
1. give your pet a really good bath with an all-natural flea shampoo
2. comb your pet with a flea comb to remove any remaining fleas or flea feces
3. treat your home (carpet and upholstery) with all-natural flea and tick sprays or powders
4. vacuum!

Sadly, this year seems to be a particularly bad year for fleas and ticks - so we think the more information a pet owner has, the better he/she can make informed decisions about combating these pests.

There are several good, all-natural products that you can use to provide effective and safe flea and tick protection. Our team members can assist you with selecting an all-natural product for your dog or cat. There are also several good products for your home and yard. Visit our website for more information about dealing with pet parasites.

Treats Unleashed, the natural place for pets, specializing in pet food, fresh-baked treats, and supplies, announces that it will open its eighth store in the St. Louis area. Located at 2520 Hwy. K in Hutchins Farm Plaza, in O'Fallon, Treats Unleashed's newest location will provide St. Charles County pet parents with a convenient, neighborhood location for all their pets' needs.

"I am excited that Treats Unleashed is growing and becoming a part of the O'Fallon community," said Teresa Miller, owner and founder of Treats Unleashed. "Treats Unleashed's new store will continue our mission to make a healthy difference in the lives of pets in our community. As we grow, we will continue to be a trusted source for our pet parents who want the very best lifestyle for their cats and dogs. We look forward to helping even more pets live happier, healthier lives, naturally."

With the new O'Fallon location, Treats Unleashed grows to 10 neighborhood stores serving the pet community, with eight stores in the St. Louis area, one in Columbia, Mo., and one in Leawood, Ks.

Watch this website, and Treats Unleashed's social media for news about the upcoming O'Fallon store's Grand Opening activities and promotions.

About Treats Unleashed

Treats Unleashed, the “Natural Place for Pets,” is focused on offering high-quality, one-of-a-kind products that keep pets happy and healthy. Treats Unleashed got it start because lifelong pet owner and advocate Teresa Miller saw the need for healthy, all-natural alternatives to the pet supplies found at “big box” stores. To this day, Teresa still approves every all-natural food, treat, supplement, toy, and product sold at Treats Unleashed. With eight shops in the St. Louis area, one shop in the Kansas City area, and one shop in Columbia, Mo., pet owners value Treats Unleashed for its knowledgeable, friendly staff, baked-from-scratch treats, all-natural foods, and fantastic selection of toys, collars, beds, and more.

Treats Unleashed caters to every pet’s individual needs when it comes to health, diet, and nutrition.

This month’s Spotlight Organization, Gateway Pet Guardians (GPG), has extra special meaning for our some of our TU family. Several friends and family members have wonderful GPG alums, who are part of their families. Every Spotlight treat sold this month will benefit the wonderful pets who are waiting at GPG while they find their forever home!

Meet handsome Due! Don't let his stunning hound looks or silly name distract you from what's important here. What's that you ask? Well, he is an extremely loving and smart pup!

Its true! Due loves, loves, loves to be around his people for snuggling and pets. He also love being around other dogs. You want to know what else he love? WALKS! He get very excited when its time for a walk. He can't help it! He has a wonderful hound bark sometimes while walking (he is a hound, after all), just to announce that Due is on the move! (Watch his video!)

Even though he has a lot of love to give, he may not be great around smaller kids. He's a bigger fella and a little protective of toys and food.

In addition to his loving personality, Due is also very smart. He's house and crate trained, but that's not all! He knows a lot of commands - sit, lay down, roll over, shake, wait, and take. See? We told you he was smart! So if you are looking for a loving and smart pup? Due is definitely your man!

More about Gateway Pet Guardians – “We believe education is the key to reducing the homeless animal problem in our community.”

Gateway Pet Guardians is a 501(c)3 nonprofit animal shelter whose passionate and dedicated staff and volunteers care for animals on the streets of East St. Louis, Illinois and surrounding areas. Their mission is to end homelessness for animals in the Metro East through rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and community education. Donations are always greatly appreciated and are used to provide veterinary care for their foster pets, some of whom have been badly injured by automobile accidents, cruelty, neglect, or life on the street.

Be aware of the signs of heatstroke
Pets can get caught up in playing and exploring outdoors in the heat which can lead to overheating and heatstroke if you are not careful. Be on the lookout for sudden changes in behavior and physical traits including lack of obedience, an overly warm body, labored breathing, a distant or worried look, vomiting, and a faster heartbeat.

If you notice any of these signs and think your pet might be overheated you can try to lower their core temperature by applying towels soaked with cool water or finding a cool spot where they can remain inactive for a while. If they are still acting as if they are uncomfortable after a little while in a cooler environment, then it is best to take the dog to your vet.

Be particularly careful if your dog is a breed that is more likely to overheat like Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Pugs and any other short-nosed breeds.

Common sense summer safety tips:

Always make sure that your pets have plenty of fresh water!

If you and your pet are out in the sun - use appropriate sunscreen for both of you.

Don't leave your pets alone when they are around swimming pools, rivers or ponds.

Even if your dog is a decent swimmer, be sure he is wearing a flotation device.

Dear Treats Unleashed,
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what Stella & Chewy dog food has done for my dog, Christian, a Pomeranian. We got him from a shelter almost four years ago as an owner surrender. I was told that his owner was feeding him Iams, but at the shelter they only used Blue Buffalo. So we bought Blue Buffalo dog food as we were told. I could tell that christian didn't like the Blue Buffalo food, but we kept feeding it to him because we didn't want to upset his stomach. Eventually, Christian wouldn't eat the Blue Buffalo food, so we got his teeth checked and tried various things to make it taste better, like adding Petchup and the Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried mix-ins. Christian would pick out the Stella & Chewy dog food and leave the Blue Buffalo behind.

After we adopted Christian, most of his fur fell out - he had a bald spot on his belly, bald stripes down both sides of his back, and a completely bald area on his behind and on both back legs. I took him to the vet several times where they tested him for everything from hypothyroidism to Cushing's disease. Everything was always normal. They had no answers for us. The vet did suggest changing him to a grain-free diet as a last effort. I did that, but still no change in Christian's fur.

Finally, we decided that since Christian didn't like the Blue Buffalo dog food, we would stop buying it and only feed him the Stella & Chewy beef freeze-dried food. Well, he loves it, even begs for it, and eats his dinner in just a few minutes! After about a month of only eating Stella & Chewy dog food, we noticed some fur sprouting. It took about six months for all of his fur to come back, but now he is furrier than ever! He looks happier and healthier. He has more energy. The transformation is amazing. Family, friends, the vet, and his groomer all ask what we did and we tell them all!

Here are a few photos from various stages of being bald, fur growing back, and, finally, being furry again! Thank you Stella & Chewy!
~ Amber, Christian's mom